Inquest into Engela baby's death
The Ohangwena police have opened an inquest into the death of a baby who died shortly after her mother gave birth to her while standing in the Engela State Hospital's maternity ward last month.
According to the police, the inquest was opened after the head of hospital lodged a complaint at the Oshikango police over the incident when 38-year-old Peelina Nghikumwa lost her baby on 20 October. Nghikumwa blamed the nurses on duty that night for the death of her baby, saying they ignored her calls for help minutes before the tragedy. Nghikumwa said she was called in by the police on Monday to make a statement at the Oshikango police station.
“They called me and took my statement as to what happened that day, which I did,” Nghikumwa told Namibian Sun yesterday.
She added that although she was possession of the preliminary report on her baby's death, which indicates that her baby was born alive but died from head injuries, she was still waiting for the final report from the pathologist.
She said she left her home village, Onanghwe yaNghikumwa in the Ohangwena Region, on 19 September and stayed at the shelter behind the Engela State Hospital until 20 October, when she was admitted to the hospital's maternity ward to deliver her baby.
Nghikumwa said around 01:00 she went into labour while sitting on her bed in the maternity ward. She called for help from the nurses and she alleges they did not respond to her and instead called her to their station.
She said she tried to do that but felt too weak.
“I was calling them but they did not come. One nurse told me to come to them, which is why I got off the bed trying to make my way to them. I was not walking straight as I was in pain and my legs were wobbly,” Nghikumwa said.
She said it was only when her child's head hit the floor that the nurses came and assisted her.
She and the baby's father considered suing the nurses.
These complaints appear to have prompted the hospital to lay a formal complaint with the police to investigate the matter which will be heard by the Ohangwena Magistrate's Court.
Namibian Sun has been informed that the post-mortem has been completed, but according to health ministry spokesperson Manga Libita the post-mortem report is not yet ready.
It is not clear whether charges will be filed if the inquest finds negligence on the part of the hospital.
KENYA KAMBOWE
According to the police, the inquest was opened after the head of hospital lodged a complaint at the Oshikango police over the incident when 38-year-old Peelina Nghikumwa lost her baby on 20 October. Nghikumwa blamed the nurses on duty that night for the death of her baby, saying they ignored her calls for help minutes before the tragedy. Nghikumwa said she was called in by the police on Monday to make a statement at the Oshikango police station.
“They called me and took my statement as to what happened that day, which I did,” Nghikumwa told Namibian Sun yesterday.
She added that although she was possession of the preliminary report on her baby's death, which indicates that her baby was born alive but died from head injuries, she was still waiting for the final report from the pathologist.
She said she left her home village, Onanghwe yaNghikumwa in the Ohangwena Region, on 19 September and stayed at the shelter behind the Engela State Hospital until 20 October, when she was admitted to the hospital's maternity ward to deliver her baby.
Nghikumwa said around 01:00 she went into labour while sitting on her bed in the maternity ward. She called for help from the nurses and she alleges they did not respond to her and instead called her to their station.
She said she tried to do that but felt too weak.
“I was calling them but they did not come. One nurse told me to come to them, which is why I got off the bed trying to make my way to them. I was not walking straight as I was in pain and my legs were wobbly,” Nghikumwa said.
She said it was only when her child's head hit the floor that the nurses came and assisted her.
She and the baby's father considered suing the nurses.
These complaints appear to have prompted the hospital to lay a formal complaint with the police to investigate the matter which will be heard by the Ohangwena Magistrate's Court.
Namibian Sun has been informed that the post-mortem has been completed, but according to health ministry spokesperson Manga Libita the post-mortem report is not yet ready.
It is not clear whether charges will be filed if the inquest finds negligence on the part of the hospital.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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